By Obinna Uballa
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has inaugurated a special legal team to challenge the outcome of the February 21, 2026 Area Council elections in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), alleging widespread irregularities and voter intimidation during the polls.
The opposition party, however, congratulated its candidates who emerged victorious in the chairmanship and councillorship contests, describing the wins as significant despite what it termed “unprecedented intimidation and executive brigandage.”
The elections were conducted on Saturday across the six FCT area councils – Abaji, Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje and Kwali.
Results announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) indicate that the All Progressives Congress (APC) secured victories in Abaji, Kwali, AMAC and Bwari, while the PDP won only in Gwagwalada Area Council.
In a statement issued on Sunday by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, the PDP congratulated the Chairman-elect of Gwagwalada Area Council, Mohammed Kasim, and the councillors declared elected by INEC.
“We specifically congratulate the Chairman-elect of Gwagwalada Area Council, Mohammed Kasim, and the councillors who have been declared successful by INEC,” the statement read.
“This victory, though less in number than we anticipated, is particularly gladdening because it is against the background of unprecedented intimidation, high-powered money politics and brazen executive brigandage.”
The party expressed dissatisfaction with the overall outcome of the elections, claiming that reports and video evidence pointed to acts of voter suppression and interference by security personnel.
“Reports and video evidence abound where armed security personnel were used to cart away result sheets in polling units, intimidate voters and unduly influence the outcome of the elections,” the PDP alleged.
To pursue redress, the party announced the constitution of a legal team headed by its National Legal Adviser, Shafi Bara’u, Esq., to handle all election petitions arising from the polls.
The PDP urged its candidates and stakeholders with legitimate grievances to immediately liaise with the legal team, warning that delays could jeopardise their cases within the constitutionally stipulated timeframe for filing election petitions.
According to the statement, the party also attributed what it described as “incredible voter apathy” during the polls to public dissatisfaction with the Electoral Act 2026.
“The incredible voter apathy in these polls is a direct response to the anti-people Electoral Act 2026, where the people have completely lost faith in the electoral outcomes from elections conducted under this Act,” it stated.
The PDP further warned that the FCT council elections could serve as a preview of the 2027 general elections if urgent reforms are not undertaken.
“These Local Council polls may just be a foreshadowing of the forthcoming general elections in 2027 if changes are not urgently made,” the party added.
It called on the National Assembly and the President to take immediate corrective measures to protect the integrity of Nigeria’s democracy and restore public confidence in the electoral process.
